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| Season | Pokémon: Battle Frontier (Season 9) · The Kanto Grand Festival arc (AG180–AG182) |
| Episode | Season 9, episode 37 · English episode 454 · Japanese episode 458 · Bulbapedia code AG182 |
| English title | Channeling the Battle Zone! |
| Japanese title | ハルカVSシュウ！最後の戦い！！ Haruka Tai Shū! Saigo no Tatakai!! — “Haruka VS Shū! The Final Battle!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 29 June 2006 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 13 December 2006 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Supāto! (Spurt!) – Satoshi (Rica Matsumoto) · Watashi, Makenai! ~Haruka no Tēma~ (I Won’t Lose! ~Haruka’s Theme~) – Haruka (KAORI.) |
| English opening | Battle Frontier – Jason Appleton |
| Previous episode | Thinning the Hoard! (AG181) |
| Next episode | Aipom and Circumstance! (AG183) |
Plot episodeMay Top 4 – Solidad winsAsh catches Aipom
Channeling the Battle Zone! is the 37th episode of Pokémon: Battle Frontier, the ninth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 454th episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 458, Bulbapedia code AG182). It first aired in Japan on 29 June 2006 and in the United States on 13 December 2006. It falls within the season’s The Kanto Grand Festival stretch (EP180–EP182).
Synopsis
The quarter-final continues, with Squirtle filling the arena with Bubble and Combusken’s Sky Uppercut chipping at Drew’s points, while Absol’s Razor Wind and Flygon’s Flamethrower strike back and an explosion between Flamethrower and Fire Spin costs both sides. Drew unleashes a “Dragon Formation”, combining Razor Wind with Dragon Breath, and Harley, watching from the stands, notes that Drew is no longer holding back. May answers with Fire Spin and Bubble together, a fire-and-water tactic that Ash and Max recognise from Tucker’s battle at the Battle Dome. With under four minutes left, Squirtle’s Bubbles, carried on Fire Spin, reach Flygon, and Squirtle finishes it with a super-effective Ice Beam, only for Absol’s Iron Tail to knock Squirtle out against a wall. With two minutes remaining it is Combusken against Absol.
Absol’s super-effective Water Pulse rocks Combusken, but it begins to glow and learns Overheat, using it to block Razor Wind and strike back. Its later Overheats grow weaker, and Water Pulse and Razor Wind leave May with very few points. As the final seconds tick down, Absol leaps in with Iron Tail and Combusken meets it with Sky Uppercut as time runs out, winning May the battle; Brock realises the repeated Overheats were a ploy to draw Drew in close. Meanwhile, Aipom grabs Ash’s hat once more and throws it back, making clear it wants to battle. It holds its own against Pikachu with Swift and Focus Punch, but a Thunderbolt weakens it, and Ash catches it in a Poké Ball as Scott appears.
In the semi-finals, Solidad’s Pidgeot and Slowbro take on May’s Munchlax and Combusken. Psychic and Feather Dance blunt May’s attacks and Slowbro’s Yawn sends Combusken to sleep, and Scott explains that Solidad is countering the aggressive style May has picked up from watching Ash. Pidgeot’s Double Team and Aerial Ace and Slowbro’s Hyper Beam knock out both of May’s Pokémon. May bows to her opponent, thanks her Pokémon and breaks down in tears as her friends comfort her. Solidad goes on to win the Kanto Grand Festival, the Ribbon Cup and the title of Top Coordinator. At the after-party May says goodbye to Drew, who leaves alone, and Scott tells Ash that the Battle Pyramid has moved to Fennel Valley, not far from Indigo Plateau, so the group set off on the last leg of the Battle Frontier.
Major Events
- Grand Festival, part 3. May beats Drew as Combusken learns Overheat, then loses the semi-final to Solidad and finishes in the Top 4
- Solidad wins the Ribbon Cup
- Ash catches Aipom
- The Battle Pyramid has moved to Fennel Valley
Captures and evolutions
Aipom#0190 · Ash · the hat thief, caught at the Grand Festival
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Kanto storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Three seconds added to the closing To be continued / Next time card
- A one-second fade cut for Cartoon Network’s ad breaks
- Harley’s threats made more violent (wringing May’s neck, pounding Drew)
- An extended Spurt! during Ash’s battle with Aipom, replaced in the dub
Part of our Pokémon: Battle Frontier guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.